Striking revelation from FBI about the gunman who attempted to assassinate Trump: 'He researched numerous targets'

The investigation conducted by the FBI into the assassination attempt on former US President and Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump on July 13 is ongoing.

FBI officials announced that the gunman who tried to kill Trump, Thomas Crooks, had been "engaged in a detailed and sustained effort" to attack a crowded event before deciding on the assassination.

FBI officials stated that 20-year-old Crooks had conducted more than 60 internet searches for information about both Republican candidate Trump and US President Joe Biden before registering for the rally where Trump would speak in early July.

FBI officials explained that Crooks had searched for information about Trump's campaign events in September 2023, and began searching for campaign events for both presidential candidates in his home area of Western Pennsylvania in April of this year. Officials also noted that the attacker had searched for the dates of both the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

"HE RESEARCHED NUMEROUS EVENTS AND TARGETS"

Kevin Rojek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Western Pennsylvania field office, told reporters, "We saw him engage in a detailed and sustained effort to plan an attack on some event. That means he researched numerous events and targets." Rojek explained that once the Trump rally was announced in early July, Crooks became "highly focused" on it and viewed the event as an opportunity for an assassination attempt.

Rojek stated that the FBI has still not been able to determine the motive that drove Crooks to decide to attempt to assassinate Trump, noting that according to data obtained from his personal computer, Crooks showed interest in many ideologies but did not have a specific leaning toward right-wing or left-wing views.

It was stated that in the days leading up to Trump's July 13 rally, the attacker also researched details about the rally site, where Trump would speak, and the company that owned the building adjacent to the rally site, which he would later use for the assassination attempt. Video recordings revealed that Crooks was on the roof of the building for a total of only about six minutes. It was also revealed that Crooks, who had explosive devices in his vehicle, had been searching for information on bomb components since 2019.

The FBI had previously announced that there was no evidence that Crooks was acting with any group or was directed by an outside power. No data was found indicating that the attacker used drugs or alcohol.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Trump was subjected to an armed attack while speaking at a podium during an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania on July 13 and narrowly escaped the attack, suffering only a wound to his right ear. One person attending the rally died, and two others were injured. The attacker, Thomas Crooks, was neutralized by a US Secret Service sniper.